Washington - The William J Clinton Foundation released thousands of pages Thursday documenting governments, individuals and businesses who contributed to the former president's charitable causes around the world.

Bill Clinton agreed to publicize the information after President- elect Barack Obama nominated his wife, Senator Hillary Clinton, as secretary of state. In her position, Clinton will be in charge of foreign policy toward the countries who gave money to the foundation.

Cairo - Five Egyptian students joined the millions of young people energized by the election of US president-elect Barack Obama, sending him a message telling him: "You are our only hope because you made us believe that change is possible."

The five female sixth-grade students went to US Ambassador Margaret Scobey in Cairo to present her with their congratulatory message to Obama.

Baghdad - The Iraqi government on Thursday denied media reports about an alleged coup plan by security officials, al-Arabiya news channel reported.

Earlier on Thursday, media reports said Iraqi security forces arrested 35 high-ranking security officials whom they said were attempting to revive the Baath Party of former president Saddam Hussein.

Iraqi Interior Ministry spokesman Abdel Kareem Khalaf confirmed the arrests, but said that "nothing will be clear until investigation ends", the Dubai-based channel quoted him as saying.

Baghdad  - Iraqi security forces arrested 35 high-ranking security officials who, they said, were attempting to revive the Baath Party of former president Saddam Hussein, al-Arabiya TV reported on Thursday quoting sources in the Iraqi ministry of interior.

The 35 officials were accused of attempting a secret coup d'etat against the Iraqi government of Nuri al-Maliki.

The officials were arrested over the last three days under a judicial order. Their arrest was confirmed by the ministry of Interior and al-Maliki's office.

Berlin  - Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier defended Thursday the role of German intelligence agents in Baghdad during the start of the Iraq war in March
2003.

The two spies were there to assess the situation, he told a parliamentary committee looking into whether the BND intelligence agency helped the US military topple the regime of Saddam Hussein.

"Everyone involved at the time was aware there was a clear political decision not to give active support to the combat activities in Iraq," Steinmeier said.

Washington  - President-elect Barack Obama vowed to restore confidence in the US financial system as he announced his choice to head the government's top regulator on Thursday.

Obama named Mary Schapiro, a long-time regulator, to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission, which has come under sharp criticism for failing to foresee the massive financial crisis striking US banks.